While action and romantic comedy were the most widespread movie genres in the1990s, TV networks produced an extensive selection of not onlyprocedural dramas, but also sitcomsthat were geared either towards families or young adults. Those comedy shows were witty, sassy, dynamic, and bold, and presented a vast array of likable and relatable characters whom are quoted and parodied to this day. Though some elements wouldn’t sit well with today’s audiences, such as gay and fat shaming, there were many tropes you could catch in just about every one of them, regardless of duration or popularity.
Some sitcoms, such asThe Golden Girls,Married… with Children,Full House, andRoseanne, were doing so well in the ’80s that they also carried on well into the next decade, while others, likeThe Nanny,Ellen, andHome Improvement, began and concluded in the ’90s, or sometimes lasted till the 2000s. That is to say, the decades may have overlapped for certain shows, but audiences were still able to notice recurring themes, characters, situations, and styles.
From the mandatory family pet to theheart-to-heart talk, these are 25 common tropes found in ’90s sitcoms.
25The Family Pet
Whether it’s Maui, the Buchmans’ Collie-mix onMad About You, The Bundys’ Briard, Buck, onMarried… with Children, Speedy, the Golden Retriever, onThe Drew Carey Show, or Salem, the talking black cat, onSabrina the Teenage Witch, ’90s sitcoms often feature a beloved pet that is either dim-witted, goofy, endearing, or snarky, with or without hilarious human voice dubs.
24The Usual Hangout
Is there any on-screen piece of furniture more recognizable than the gang’s burnt orange couch inFriends’ local coffee shop, Central Perk? In comedy shows, highs-schoolers and adult friends tend to meet at the same spot to catch up, gossip, vent, or meet potential love interests. It’s Nemo’s Pizza inEverybody Loves Raymond, Monk’s Café inSeinfeld, The Den inMoesha, and The Max for Baysiders inSaved by the Bell.
Related:12 ’90s TV Hairstyles We’ll Never Forget
23The Huge Fight with the Bestie
The two close friends who always support and hang out with each other also get their share of tension every once in a while. InFriends’ sixth episode from season six,The One on the Last Night, for instance, Monica and Rachel get into a heated argument right before the latter is supposed to move out, so that her boyfriend Chandler can move in. Monica is furious that Rachel hasn’t finished packing yet, and the two list all the things that have been irking them about each other.
Monica:OK, here’s the last of your boxes. I’m just going to label it “What were you thinking?”
Rachel:Funny, I was going to go across the hall and write that on Chandler.
Eventually, Phoebe, the third friend, steps in and suggests they both list the things they love about each other, and they naturally make up, with the obligatory hugs and tears.
22Filler Recap Episodes
Long-running ’90s sitcoms often resort to recap flashback sequences taken from earlier episodes and that vaguely relate to a present situation. Sometimes, they are relevant to the episode in question and remind audiences that they have spent years growing with the featured characters. More often than not, though, those recaps seem unnecessarily long and are just used as nostalgic fillers when creativity is down and a season’s budget is tight.
21The Disastrous Vacation
A vacation going wrong, whether at the beach, in another town, or in a new country altogether, is also quite common and deviates from a show’s familiar environment, for some much-needed adventure and excitement. InSeinfeld, the group’s visit to East Hampton results in Kramer doing community service for lobster poaching, and in Elaine being compared to a bad-looking baby. InFull House, while on a trip to Disney World, Jesse and Becky quarrel, and Danny’s marriage proposal to Vicky is constantly interrupted.
But sometimes, it is not a successful formula.
Case in point,Friends’The One in Barbados;nobody can forget Monica’s awfully frizzy hair when the gang travels to Barbados and is met with heavy rain. IMDB users do not take kindly to that particular chapter, writing, “First part is rewatchable. Second part is absolutely terrible,” and “Adding to the long list of terrible moments in this episode, we have the horrible table tennis game, where the two annoying characters brag how awesome they are, while being very obviously and very painfully mediocre at the game.”
20The Cute, Smart, and Funny Youngest Child
Children are depicted as expressive, sassy, and witty, particularly the latest addition to the household.Full House’s Michelle Tanner, played by the Olsen twins, is a prime example of the cute, smart, and funny youngest child: her soft pigtails, piercing blue eyes, mischievous pout, and impetuous personality get her in and out of messy situations. As forSmart Guy’s premise, it revolves entirely around T.J. (Tahj Mowry), an adorable and intellectually gifted 10-year-old boy who skips six grades and makes startling statements like, “I’ll try to be more sensitive to the fact that you’re dumber than me.”
19The Episode-Long Misunderstanding
Mistaken identities, misinterpreted statements, miscommunication problems, and late confessions, all of which could have been avoided, often result in a misunderstanding that lasts for the majority of an episode. InFrasier’sThe Matchmakerchapter, for example, the lead attempts to set Daphne up with the radio station’s new manager, Tom; unbeknownst to him, Tom is actually gay and thinks Frasier is the one who is coming on to him.Redditors quite enjoythis particular episode, writing, “When Daphne walks out from her bedroom, hears Tom saying he’s gay, does a 180, and pulls out her bra in defeat, I just die,” “At no point are you laughing at the fact anyone is gay, just that Frasier’s made a buffoon out of himself…again,” and “I look forward to it every time I start over to rewatch.”
18Sequences of Fantasy Scenarios
Audiences are regularly treated to exaggerated imagined scenarios, where a character projects either into an alternate vision of what their friend or significant other may be doing at a given moment, or into the future to picture what would happen should a certain choice be made or an event occur. These scenes are typically framed by a faded white vignette effect, and though they’re often made consciously by the characters, they may occasionally be set within an actual dream.
InThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s episodeBundle of Joy, each family member imagines what life would be like with Vivian’s new baby girl on the way: Ashley, for instance, fears she will literally become invisible, as she’d no longer be the youngest child; Hilary, the eldest, is giddy about using her as her personal assistant; while Geoffrey, the butler, predicts (rightfully so) that he’d be overwhelmed with work.
17The Special Serious Episode
Comedy shows in both this decade and the ’80s include the occasional dead serious episode, to shed light on a specific social, health, mental, or environmental issue. Though the topic and scenario may take the viewers off-guard, the action obviously includes comedic-relief moments that remind them that this is essentially a light, feel-good show.Bullets Over Bel-AirinThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airtackles gunpoint robbery;Boy Meets World’s episodeIf You Can’t Be with the One You Loveaddressesunderage drinking and alcoholismthat runs within the same family, and lead actor Ben Savage addresses the audience with a PSA at the end; and inHome Improvement’sThe Longest Day, Randy, one of Tim Taylor’s boys, gets a thyroid cancer scare.
16Crossovers with Other Shows
In an effort to increase ratings and promote their various comedy shows, networks include special crossover episodes. Ray Barone fromEverybody Loves Raymondappears in Fran Fine’s high-school reunion onThe Nanny;Family Matters’ geeky Steve Urkel bonds over eyeglasses with Stephanie onFull House; andThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s Hilary wins a date with Blossom’s brother Tony inBlossom.
